Giga's girlfriend broke up with him Oct. 1, 2010. The killing occurred as a result of Giga trying to get a vehicle to drive to his girlfriend's house in Saugerties, said District Attorney Holley Carnright.

Giga was at large in the Ellenville area for 14 hours before police stormed into an empty house just 1½ miles from the rehab center and captured Giga. He had been holed up there for 4½ hours.

Giga knew from the outset he didn't want this case going to trial out of sensitivity to the victim's families, according to his lawyer, Andy Kossover.

Giga agreed to confess a week ago without any plea agreement, Carnright said. The victim's families were present at the noon plea, Carnright said, and were relieved both for the conviction and the likelihood of a maximum sentence.

Carnright said he had several pieces of evidence linking Giga to the stabbings: